Moab – Capitol Reef – Escalante
Mid-May 2008

This trip is being planned for mid-May 2008 following my last trip in June of this year. The previous trip included Bryce Canyon, Zion, Page, GC and Sedona. You can read my very detailed trip report here and view my photos at: www.travelwalks.com

I travelled solo on the previous trip (wife stayed home). However, it appears that a friend who lives a couple of thousand miles away will be joining me. We’ll meet in Salt Lake City, both arriving between 12 and 1PM.

With two people driving it should be much easier to get around after long, active days.

My List

*** Arches National Park – The motivation for the trip
a) Delicate Arch (could do 2 visits at different times) 2-3 hrs
b) Park Avenue area 2 hrs
c) Windows section, Balanced Rock, Double Arch, etc 2-3 hrs
d) Fiery Furnace 3 hrs
e) Devil’s Garden area (Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, Tunnel, Landscape Arch, etc) excl Primitive trail 3 hrs

*** Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands – Scenic drive, Mesa Arch, Grand View Point

*** Dead Horse Point State Park

*** Potash Road – Route 279
Corona/Bowtie Arch hike

*** River rafting 1/2 day

*** Route 128 (1/2 day)
Scenic Route, Fisher Towers – partial hike, La Sal Mountain Loop drive

*** Capitol Reef National Park
Hickman Bridge hike
Capitol Gorge or Grand Wash hike
Scenic drive

*** Route 12 Torrey to Boulder to Escalante

*** Boulder area
Lower Calf Creek Falls hike
Devil’s Garden Escalante
Long Canyon on Burr Trail Rd (slot canyon)

*** Willis Creek (slot canyon)

*** Bryce Canyon
Navajo Loop – Queen’s Garden

Day 0
Depending upon how well we do at the airport and drive from SLC, we may go directly to Arches NP before checking in. May do a) or b) from the Arches list above and sign up for the Fiery Furnace hike.

Day 1
Arches NP. At least 2 and possibly 3 from the Arches list.
Sunset somewhere

Day 2
Dead Horse Point
Canyonlands (see list above)
Depending on timing/schedule either Corona Arch, Fiery Furnace or something else from Arches list.
Sunset somewhere

Day 3
Morning ½ day river rafting
Route 128 (see list above)
Sunset somewhere

Day 4
Arches NP. Remainder from the Arches list above.
Sunset somewhere

Day 5
Hopefully very early departure from Moab to Capitol Reef NP.
Possibly stop in Goblin Park (depending upon time)
Capitol Reef (see list above) I think Chimney Rock is too much too hard.
Depending upon time, drive down Route 12 between Torrey and Boulder for a late afternoon view.

Day 6
Drive from Torrey past Boulder to Lower Calf Creek Falls. Hopefully not have a parking issue. Hike LCCF.
Continue drive on Route 12 to Escalante.
Depending on what was done the previous day drive back up Route 12 partway towards Torrey for scenic views.
Burr trail Rd 11 miles to Long Canyon (slot)
Down Hole-in-the-Rock to Devil’s Garden.

Day 7
If parking was a problem at Lower Calf Creek Falls the previous day we could drive thru to Willis Creek then and save LCCF for this morning.
Anything else on the list that was missed.
Willis Creek (easy slot canyon just south of Cannonville)
Bryce Canyon (I was here in June so I can pass on this if timing doesn’t work out)
Return to SLC late for next day flight.

Hey myer - Your trip sounds great. There are a couple little changes i'd make, altho what you've planned is certainly doable.

On day #2, after Dead Horse i'd stick with either canyonlands or arches, not both. They're not really that close and you won't want to rush. You could do the scenic drive, Mesa Arch, Grand View Point hikes (relatively short and easy) in 1/2 day - we did one summer when we only had 2 days in the moab area, but since you'll be there longer, i wouldn't rush it. And if you're planning to drive Long Canyon Road, that would be the day - from Dead Horse back to Moab via long canyon road and pucker's pass.

Rt 128 is very scenic but imo not compared to arches and canyonlands. We've driven it several times, its certainly the best way to I70. One year we hiked part of Fisher Towers and while awesome, i don't know if i'd devote 1/2 day to it - but you certainly could as others have. You'll have col river options but you'll already be rafting eralier. Last july the road was closed for repair, grrr, when we'd planned to do more of the hike; DD had specifics re movie scenes filmed there (and around the moab area) and wanted to check them out,too.

Of course there are many many ways you can do this - and you asked on another thread why i'm enjoying your trip planning -

The past eleven(11)summers we've done cross-country road trips, 3-3.5 wks, 6-8,000 miles each. The last five trips planned here with some amazing fodorites -
click on name and scroll back for trip reports - still working on latest) Sadly i'm not planning out west adventure # 12 so i'm living thru planners like you
So even tho we've explored the vast majority of the west, CA and the PNW, our absolute fav places are in the SW where you're going.

There are so many ways you can do your trip - we did it differently each year as
much is just personal preference.
So i'm looking forward to what everyone else recommends! Regardless how your days are divided it'll be great.

You sounded like you were "jonesn'" ellen. I know the feeling.

Myer, I have a thought that might make your Rt. 128 day more fulfilling.

Just to the north of where 128 hits I-70, there is an amazing display of rock art from a variety of Archaic Americans. Barrier Style, Fremont and Ute are all present. It is one of the most interesting rock art displays I've seen and it is almost curbside. I find this stuff irresistible but it doesn't do it for everyone.

If you mapquest directions for Moab to Thompson it will get you there. The panels are about 3 miles north of town. All paved roads.

Hopefully this link will take you to more info on the pictographs and petroglyphs.

http://climb-utah.com/Moab/sego.htm

Ellen thanks.

I'll have a regular car so I don't expect to return to Moab via the back road.

Unless Canyonlands is spectacular, I expect to be ready to leave by 3PM or so after having been to Dead Horse Point.

Then there'd be more than enough time to go to Potash Rd and the Corona Arch hike or back to Arches for Fiery Furnace. Depends on when our reservation for FF is.

If it turns out Rt 128 is less than expected, could always return to Arches early.

I can see visiting Delicate Arch at a few different times of day.

You mentioned hiking part of Fisher Towers. That's what I had in mind.

I bet you will want to spend an entire day at Dead Horse and Canyonland. You can do all of Arches in 2 and certainly 3 days. Delicate Arch was spectacular, but I think one time per trip would be enough for me. Be sure and walk all the way around it and down in the bowl. Most people just look at it, and maybe walk up to it. Go behind, below it. One of the major arches you are not mentioning is Double O. This is different than Double. It is a little further past Landscape. Park Avenue is pretty impressive right at the entrance. This park is very managable and easy to navigate. I know I posted earlier, but canyoneering in Fiery Furnace was out of this world. They range from easy to hard. We did the most strenuous one and it wasn't that tough. We absolutely loved Arches. I plan on doing Escalante and Capital reef in the futre. I am anxious to hear how those compare with Arches and Canyonland.

spiro, Thanks.

I just estimated I'd be finished with Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point by about 3PM. I definitely won't rush out. If they keep me longer, so be it.

I didn't mention Double-O Arch because it may or may not be further than I want to go into Devil's Garden.

If it gets too difficult or too strenuous I'll cut it short. Otherwise I'll continue.

spiro,
I checked a few previous posts and I'm somewhat confused.

Just above you were disappointed that I omitted Double O Arch but in you other post you specifically omitted it.

Your favorites - "Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, Double Arch (not double O), Firey Furnace, Balanced Rock, Wall Street area".

Like I wrote. If it gets too long or difficult I'll cut it off around there.

If you hit Calf Creek Falls on a weekday, you should not have problems with parking. In general, I have found that Southern Utah does not get too crowded during the week unless there is some big festival. On the weekends, all of us from the Wasatch Front flock down there--that is when the parking gets tough. In May you will have missed Spring Break and it will before school lets out.

The other thing to remember is that while it only takes 4 hours to get to Moab from SLC, it can take 5-6 to get to Escalante. So you will have a long drive ahead of you. You do not want to hit anything north of Provo between 4-6pm because of traffic. You don't want to be driving too many backroads at dusk because there is still quite a bit of open range down in southern Utah. So you might want to leave from Escalante by 2 pm.

I would also caution you not to take Route 6 through Price on a Friday or a Sunday when it is crowded and dangerous with weekend traffic.

StantonHyde,
Thanks. You've given me some things to check.

The trip is schedule for May 14 (Wed) arriving and May 22 (Thur) leaving.

The only thing that may increase the number of people is that the following weekend is Memorial Day. But I leave the Thur before.

I expect to leave SLC upon arrival on a Wed around 1PM or so. I guess the route will be 15 then 6 but not really in rush traffic or darkness.

For the return, it will very probably be from Bryce or less likely from Boulder.

I would expect to leave about 5-6PM or so. Driving in the dark will probably be the last part on 15 and well after rush traffic.

I've read a few posts about Rt 6. I only expect to be on it at the start in the middle of the afternoon on a Wed.

If returning to SLC from Boulder. Am I better off taking Rt 28 north parallel to Rt 15 or taking Rt 50 and cutting over to Rt 15 earlier?

I'm really not concerned about a long drive later in the day as we'll be two people driving.

Well Double O wasn't one of my very favorites. I think the reason I stated like that in my post was to try to make Double stand out. I really liked double. The four big standouts to me were Delicate, Landscape, Balanced, and Double. But I just didn't want you to miss Double O being that close. A lot of people really like that one. It is another mile or so away from Landscape the best I remember. I do think you have to go across one big fin with pretty good dropoffs on both sides. Wall Arch is another pretty good arch along the way. It may have been before Landscape, I can't remember. If you do decide to go the entire primitive trail it is mostly all flat. the last part is a little more difficult because it is in sand, and nothing particular to see. It took us 4 or 5 hours to do the entire thing.

spiro,
Well, a fin with drop-offs on both sides does not look to appealing.

There were many reasons I didn't hike Angel's Landing. I know my limitations.

I can't think of enough reasons to do the primitive trail in Devil's Garden.

Wall Arch is a bit after Landscape but well before Double O Arch. There are a couple of others near Wall. That may be about it.

Thanks.

The arches near Wall are easy to get to. Just short little side trails. Pinetree was a pretty nice one to see. If you don't like heights, do skip Double O. The fin does get your attention. I haven't been to CR. I would really like to do the Grand Wash, Bridge, and see Fruita. Hwy 12, should be awesome along with calf creek. We went to Arches/Canyon this past Memorial Day weekend. It was nice in the morning and evening, but a little warm mid-day. We did some morning hikes around 7:30 and pretty much had the trails to ourself. A deer jumped in front of us near landscape. We saw Delicate @ Sunset. You may have the right idea seeing it more than once. There is no shade on it if you do it mid-day. It is long and uphill getting to it, but easy coming back down. Nothing scary except maybe the last few feet. and its not bad. One thing I wish I had done in Arches was do a rafting trip, like you are doing. It looks like you have your trip very well planned. Our favorite place to eat in Moab was Moab Brewery. We don't drink, but the food was good. Have a great time.

I just noticed your comment about the Chimney Rock hike at CR. FYI that hike is no harder than the hike up to Delicate Arch at Arches NP.

My husband has a fear of heights and that fin on the way to Double O Arch was his limit. I jumped over a space and reached back to take his hand and he was sitting down. "I can't go another step" is what I believe he said. He was fine until that point, though!

peterboy, Dohlice, Thanks.

Depending on time we'll see about Chimney Rock. Could be a full day with priorities. It's at the far end (west side) of the Park on Rt 12 so it'll be last. I might want to drive partway down Rt 12 between Torrey and Boulder that day as well. Well see.

Dohlice.

I guess stopping a little before he sat down is the right thing to do.

While I'd like to see the spectacular, I want to make it home to begin planning the next trip. I'm getting older and wish I had started this earlier.

I saw two guys sit down near the top of Queen's Garden in Bryce while their wives left them and went down. I couldn't convince them to go down. I guess they never thought of getting into better shape before the trip. But they decided it was too much and that's it.

That part of it isn't a difficult hike, though. It was strictly a fear of heights thing. I felt very safe on the fin - in fact I loved it because I felt like I was in a Coyote-Roadrunner cartoon! It was wide enough but I think having a drop off on both sides really brings out the fear of heights thing. He said it feels like a light breeze could blow him right off. I didn't have the heart to leave him there so I didn't get to the end, but I would do it again anyway. I'm jealous thinking about it. We practically just got back and I already wish I was going again!

I do have sympathy for those who don't or can't prepare. Some people do seem to think that they can spend every day on the couch and then go hiking out west. Big mistake! It's so worth getting in shape for. So many people just go to the lookouts and you miss out on a lot that way.

Dohlice,

I agree. While there mau be legitimate physical reasons, in most cases most people are lazy.

Anybody who can and doesn't go down in places such as Bryce is doing themselves a diservice. And you don't have to go very far down to get a real feel. Within a minute of starting down Navajo Loop you feel like your below the hoodoos.

But....

Here's a shot from the top of the fin section of the Primitive Trail.

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/21330677

I was doing fine until an English tourist decided to stop and set up his tripod which i thought was rather rude. There was no room to go around so I sat down. Finally the guy's wife pointed out his faux pas and he folded camp so we could continue. You can see other fins in the shot.

Peter,

I can't really tell how close you have to be to the edge. Also, did you have to climb all the way from the bottom? That's a long way up.

I'm thinking more and more that a little elss is better than a little too much.

I probably have enough built into this trip so far.

Thanks for sharing the photo.

You don't have to climb up. The trail just comes to the top of the fin at one end and you walk across. The left side wasn't so far down, maybe 50' at the worst. The right side however was at least 100' or more.

For me the worst part was later on where we had to go down a steep stretch of slickrock to a ledge to continue. My trick knee leads me to great caution when gong down. It wasn't too bad in reality but the consequences of slipping would have been severe.

You'll get plenty of excercise if you go up to Delicate a couple of times. Besides, you need to save something so you have an excuse to go back.